Abstract: A method for seamlessly splicing a local commercial segment into an existing network time slot, without decoder buffer overflow or underflow. The vbv_delay of the commercial segment is manipulated (e.g., for a minimum delay or a maximum delay). The pictures from the commercial segment are output for at least a portion of the associated network time slot duration. A determination is made regarding the number of pictures remaining in a stored portion of the incoming network feed or the commercial segment and the output rate is adjusted as required. The vbv_delay of the stored network feed or the vbv_delay of the local commercial segment is adjusted to match the vbv_delay of the incoming network feed.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a transport packet stream having an output formatted as an ASI group having a plurality of short and long ASI packets in a fixed sequence. The short and long ASI packet each have an associated transport packet and a fixed number of special idle characters and the transport packets are dispersed among the special idle characters.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a transport packet stream having an output formatted as an ASI group having a plurality of short and long ASI packets in a fixed sequence. The short and long ASI packet each have an associated transport packet and a fixed number of special idle characters and the transport packets are dispersed among the special idle characters.

Abstract: A method for seamlessly splicing a local commercial segment into an existing network time slot, without decoder buffer overflow or underflow. The vbv_delay of the commercial segment is manipulated (e.g., for a minimum delay or a maximum delay). The pictures from the commercial segment are output for at least a portion of the associated network time slot duration. A determination is made regarding the number of pictures remaining in a stored portion of the incoming network feed or the commercial segment and the output rate is adjusted as required. The vbv_delay of the stored network feed or the vbv_delay of the local commercial segment is adjusted to match the vbv_delay of the incoming network feed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the true edge length of a body subtended by two other body edges comprises exposing the body to a beam of light such that the edge is imaged by an optical system for projecting a linear section across the body as a silhouette-like image onto a linear array of photosensitive detectors. The image is usually blurred due to diffraction effects. The body is initially positioned in focus and then scanned moving the array provide an image of at least a portion of the desired edge to define a reference line representing the location of the edge. The array is then moved in scanned sequence from that reference line to provide fifty percent (50%) intensity level data points to define the other body edges. Lines are fitted through such data points and extended to intersect the reference line to determine the true length of the edge even with a blurred image of portions of that edge.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining the widths and spacings of substantially parallel opaque stripes on a substrate, wherein the stripes are separated by openings. The system comprises a light source for illuminating the substrate and photodetecting means positioned to receive light from the illuminated substrate. Means are included for scanning the photodetecting means transverse to the stripes and for sweeping the photodetecting means in a direction substantially parallel to the stripes. The system further includes means for converting the output of the photodetecting means into a quantized signal, means for dividing the quantized signal into separate signals representing stripe widths and opening widths between stripes, and means for converting the stripe width and opening width signals into a signal representing center-to-center spacing between openings.

Abstract: An automatic fluid dispensing apparatus for coating to a substantially uniform thickness a rotating surface, such as the surface of a semiconductor wafer, with a viscous liquid, such as a slurry of passivating glass. The wafer rotation rate is related to the radial movement of a dispensing arm to maintain a constant tangential velocity of the wafer at the radial location of the dispensing arm while a bead of the slurry is dispensed at a constant rate proportional to the tangential velocity to provide a spiral beaded coating of constant volume per square. By allowing the bead to heal during or following the dispense cycle, the viscous liquid spreads to a uniform thickness.

Abstract: The inspection system detects defects in regular patterns wherein the elements of the patterns may have variations in period. In the system a camera, having a photoelectric sensor therein, is mechanically moved to permit the sensor to scan and detect the elements of a pattern. The system includes circuitry for processing the output of the sensor. The circuitry includes portions for quantizing the sensor output signal, for storing the quantized signal of a portion of a scan, for determining element period from the quanitized signal and for controlling the output of the storage portion at times related to element period. The circuitry also includes portions for correlating the output from the storing portion with a real time quantized signal of the same scan and for indicating the presence of an error related to a pattern defect in response to a miscorrelation signal from the correlating portion.